Sunday, November 29, 2009

I opted to take Keyser to my parents for Thanksgiving and Hubby took Toby to his family's (we didn't spend the holiday together). Toby has been to my parents house on a few occassions, but Keyser hadn't; but I wasn't too concerned.

Keyser actually did very well. He loved the attention; loved the table scraps and loved running up and down the yard. He liked playing with Caden & Maddie.

However.......

Caden arrived with his dog Brita. I've been around Brita and she's always been very well behaved. We were in the kitchen when my sister said "Oh no, they brought Brita." At first I didn't understand her concern. Keyser loves other dogs. She explained that Brita tends to get out of control when she sees other animals. I put Keyser on his leash and hoped for the best. Dogs normally go through a very cautious sniffing of each other; I figured Brita would see Keyser was harmless and vice versa and well they could run in the yard together.......yeah, right.

Brita apparently smelled Keyser ahead of time, the door wasn't even completely opened when she just burst through it and jumped on Keyser, whose hair immediately stood up on ends all down his back (not a good sign). There was growling and some yelping. Since they live the closest, poor Brita had to go home. I felt kind of bad and told them that I wouldn't bring he or Toby again without checking to see what they were doing first. I told them they could have Christmas.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Nanci says we must add Tim DeKay from the show "White Collar". I was unfamiliar with this show, but she tells me it's on the USA network on Fridays. She also said they'll be a marathon this afternoon. (Check your time zone for the correct time). And after seeing this photo, well....that show may be worth watching:

Kind of in the same way "Smallville" was worth watching when Michael Rosenbaum was in it........

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Today was another trip down the road to Johns Hopkins. Just another follow up to July's surgery. Things are well and he doesn't have to go back for 6 months.......well, for surgery follow-up. Next week it's down the road for a colonoscopy and endoscopy. Hubby was diagnosis ed locally with 3 stomach ulcers prior to the last surgery and they've caused some other problem that can become serious. So he's opted for a Johns Hopkins doctor rather than a local one. I have to agree; they are just so nice and professional there. We are lucky to live so close.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Now don't get me wrong, I like Christmas as much as everyone else. But does it seem like the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier each year? I was seeing Christmas things in stores at the end of August, and frankly, that's way too early.

I've always thought the weekend after Thanksgiving is too early also. Not too early to start shopping and such, but for decorating and putting up a tree and such. I would honestly be sick of all of it by Christmas. I think 2 weeks prior is the best time.

But the stores seem to be in overkill. Who am I kidding? It isn't just the stores, it's everything. Our little town did the square tree lighting LAST FRIDAY and followed it the next day with the Christmas Parade. Couldn't they at least wait until after Thanksgiving?

I even have friends that decorated last weekend. They tried to tell me it's because they are so busy and that was positively the only weekend they had free time to do it. Really??? I mean, come on, if decorating is THAT important to you, certainly you can spare an evening (even if very late) after Thanksgiving to decorate. And honestly people, it's no crime to not decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving...it's not required to do then. No arrests will be made.

Call me Scrooge, but I think this holiday has gotten way out of control and I see less & less joy in it.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Prayers go out today to my friend & fellow co-worker Debbie, who's son was killed in an automobile accident last night. Last week her husband (who's also a friend/co-worker) had a possible stroke (still waiting on test results for that). Please add her to your prayer list; she really needs them at this time.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

It's been a rather relaxing day or maybe a better word is a "lazy" one.

I realized I missed some "anniversaries" (if you want to call the that):

October 24th marked one year since Strat disappeared.

November 11th marked one year since hubby had his neck surgery.

It's hard to believe all that time has passed.

Today was the Christmas parade in Waynesboro....I didn't go; I cannot celebrate Christmas prior to Thanksgiving and I cannot understand why society insists on pushing Christmas on us earlier and earlier each year. Someone please explain!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Lowe's apparently had us down for 2 washers and no dryer...anyway, they've corrected that mistake but we're still waiting for the stock to come in; so it may be another week yet.

Work's been ho-hum with no scanning happening. See told ya - whole lot of talk for a whole lot of nothing. But I'm glad, why can't people stay out of my file room????

"2012" - This movie was pretty good but lacked some common sense (spoilers may exist ahead). For instance, how is it that one family can drive through collapsing buildings and the ground splitting apart without damage?? How is that the person who has had a few flying lessons can fly an airplane solo around falling buildings and huge boulders flying at you and then help co-pilot a huge plane?? Why is it that the divorced Mom & Dad have to end up together again for the ending to be happy?? Why is it that the nice guy scientist is surprised that the government would be selling tickets to the ships and not allowing just anyone on?? Was anyone else rooting that the John Cusack family just die? Boy, I was - to save their selfish selves they put the lives of hundreds of others on the line. Unfortunately, I didn't get that wish. If you like lots of action...it's the movie for you; but in my opinion the non-stop action plucked my nerves.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

It's been one of THOSE nights. First my new washer & dryer were to arrive between 5:00 and 8:00 - it never showed. This causes a problem for tomorrow as someone was coming for the old washer and dryer and they need to be up and out of the cellar for that....and well they're not. I then noticed on the receipt that you could check the status of your purchase...when I did, it had the delivery date as NEXT FRIDAY!!! Black Friday??? I think not. We were specifically told tonight and that if anything changed we'd receive a phone call - no call has occurred.

The weather is crappy - it's pouring down rain. I ran out to McDonald's to get our dinner. We sit down to eat. I get up to get a drink and tell hubby "Don't let the dogs at my food." I'm not gone 10 seconds, when I walk back in the room, Keyser is on my chair eating my sandwich; hubby's eating fries and watching TV. So I had a little fit. Had to throw my dinner out and then hubby wanted to offer me one of his sandwiches, which I nastily refused - had I wanted that sandwich, I'd of ordered it!!! Grrrrr.....

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I get to work today and there's a computer issue going on. No problem for me, I head to the file room. Office Employee (OE) comes in a while later and decides since the computer is down she's going to scan.

No one has scanned in I don't know how long....as a matter of fact, scanning normally causes a whole lot of hate and discontent, and well no one really has time to do it. Since the scanning involves "the files" most everyone sees it as my job entirely and whine and complain if they have to help. Scanning is like Filing - you just don't get help with it.

When a file hits a 7 year period, it can be scanned and then the hard copy destroyed. Technically we should be scanning 2002 files now...but who am I kidding we've never finished 1999 files!! Anyway, since people are constantly returning...a file can contain several different years in it. Which basically means, you have to go through all the files to find the year you need. Very big project.

Since the files on the shelves outside of the filing system are 2003 and prior...I had decided that when I got the time to scan, I'd just pull the whole file down and do the whole thing. Since we're almost in 2010 all these files can be scanned - no sense in going year by year. Saves a step, no problem.

Anyway, OE1 decides she'll scan what's left of the 1999 files. Unfortunately, though the scanned computer is to be separate from the regular network, whatever was going on was also affecting it. So she got it in her head that she was going to pull the 2000 files out of the folders. I explained to her that I had decided against it and to just do the whole file as they all can be scanned. She said that made sense.

Ten minutes later she returns and tells me she discussed it with the Boss (????!!!!) and he didn't really care how we did it but we all needed to agree how it was done. She further went on to tell me she only went to him just so he'd know what was going on in case he needed to find a file (he NEVER gets a file, he asks me to get it for him). She then pulls in OE 2 & 3 and begins to tell them how she's tearing down the files and apparently she and the Boss had decided to continue breaking it down by year. This went over OE 2 & 3 heads, they only heard "scanning" and they immediately went in to rages of how they don't have time to scan, etc.... I just shook my head.

When we started this last time, I planned a system that no one was pleased with for some unknown reason and Boss took their side...it wasn't until later when things were taking so long that he agreed my way had been the right way...by then though, it was too late to organize. Course I'm not over concerned about this as regular duties will take over and I'll just do it my way anyway...but you get the picture.

Why is it that no one wants the file job, but everyone has an opinion of how to do it???

Sunday, November 15, 2009

I hate that it gets dark so early....I always think it's later than it is.

Today I lost another guinea pig. He was fine yesterday, happily taking his morning carrot. Today...well, he was on the bottom of the cage stiff. His cagemate just took both carrots without even thinking about it. Can you believe that I'm now down to TWO guinea pigs???? I remember when I had 15!!! It's sad to see them go, but it does free up time - I hate to say. At one time it was my passion. Anyone, I combined the last 2 into one cage and so far they seem to be doing okay. I have a rather large spare cage on a stand with wheels if anyone is interested.

My niece called me in quite a panic this morning as she had opened a private message in her FaceBook that hijacked the computer and then sent the virus out to most of her FaceBook friends!! Yikes!! I've spent most of the afternoon cleaning the mess up. The PM came from someone she knew (who apparently had opened it and thus sending it to all their friends). Word of caution - even if it's from a friend, if it's anything about a video or movie, delete it. Her's said something like "Is This You In This Video?" Course, her laptop had no virus protection - I've since fixed that. And if it does happen to you, change your FaceBook password right away and go to www.facebook.com/security , they'll provide some helpful suggestions.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Okay, technically it didn't sit in my house quite like that - I did have the hole covered. And now the new one:

Can't do the washer and dryer yet - but it's coming. Today my one sister and her boyfriend stopped by. Her BF is an electrician and he came to hook up a plug for the new dryer. Our old one is hard wired and the new one needs a plug. That was like a 10 minute job for him. Hubby was going to do it himself, but....I could see it taking the whole weekend along with lots of bad words...so it was just easier this way!!

When we bought the house it looked like this from the front:

Huge bushes blocking the front of the house; we now have it like this:

You can now see the house and hubby is building a little wall. I think I want the railings gone as well and carpeting on the stoop. Course, right now it's pretty barren, won't be landscaping until Spring!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Okay no I haven't picked up a washer & dryer through Freecycle (though that is possible)...but as hubby and I walked through Lowe's this evening we, as always, looked at the front loaders. We then decided, WTF, let's do it!! And so we did - we also decided that we wouldn't buy each other Christmas presents this year and just consider the washer & dryer Christmas. They'll arrive next Thursday and they are RED!!!I'm so excited!!

Last post I told you about the couch. Our old couch is sitting on the side of the house, next to the alley. When we got home tonight, hubby was turning around in the alley, the car lights shown on the side of the house and there was Cooper all curled up on the old couch!! We both laughed. Unfortunately, he jumped off before I could take a picture.

They've chosen to block FaceBook at work due to an employee using it in front of a supervisor, that just happened to be in a bad mood. This has seriously upset one officer, who I would assume was an abuser of this (why else be so upset?). Anyway, this discussion came up in the office today between myself, another office employee (OE) and the computer guy. OE immediately stated that she did not have a FaceBook and was tired of the above stated officer insisting she did. I assume she said this because the computer guy was sitting there as she actually DOES have a FaceBook account. She may never use it, but I helped her set it up!!! And she is listed with her first name, maiden name, and last name - it's her!! She then continued with how only idiots use things like FaceBook, Twitter and MySpace; why would anyone be so stupid as to want to be in touch with people they knew years ago and haven't seen since, and how boring of a life can you have if after spending all day at work in front of a computer, you'd go home and sit in front of one; and that people are just not smart enough to realize the dangers of online socializing.

Yep, in less than 30 seconds she called me an idiot, stupid, boring and not smart. The computer guy and I just looked at each other and smiled. I guess running your daughter to school activities, movies and the mall is a little more exciting of a life...........NOT!!!! People are so funny when they just don't understand.

Anyway, I *can* access FaceBook via my phone (Samsung Instinct) and if I take my laptop to work (which I often do for scheduled meetings) I can access it via my Virgin Mobile Pay As You Go USB device (thereby totally avoiding the work internet access) . Come to think of it, I should take the laptop everyday and charge people to access their FaceBook accounts!!! Hmmmm.......

Thursday, November 12, 2009

We had a huge sectional sofa at the old house. It was old but comfortable. When we bought our house we knew it would never fit, so we got rid of it via FreeCycle.

We were worried at first, as we didn't have a replacement. Fortunately our house came with a sofa & chair...for some reason everyone assumed they sold at auction. If they did, no one picked them up. So they became our's.

Over that time period Keyser has chewed a rather large hole in the middle cushion. I keep it covered, but there's practically no back if you're sitting in the middle. A few weeks ago one of the back legs broke off. So now we had a lop-sided sofa.

We just couldn't see investing in a brand new one with Keyser still chewing everything in sight, so I've been watching Free Cycle. One eventually showed up and well now it's sitting in my living room (after 2 hours of shoving it in the door). I'm going to clean it this weekend. Though not perfect, it is suitable for company and well, it was free! Course now I need new curtains to go with it.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Despite the fact that the weather was cold and crappy today; CC and I did have a nice day. I bought a pair of snow boots, a few Christmas presents, some clearance Halloween decorations and some other odds and ends. Pretty successful day.

The movie, however, was terrible. We went to see "The Fourth Kind" which is explained at imdb.com like this:

Modern-day, Alaska, where-mysteriously since the 1960s-a disproportionate number of the population has been reported missing every year. Despite multiple FBI investigations of the region, the truth has never been discovered. Here in this remote region, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler began videotaping sessions with traumatized patients and unwittingly discovered some of the most disturbing evidence of alien abduction ever documented. The Fourth Kind exposes the terrified revelations of multiple witnesses. Their accounts of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details, the validity of which is investigated throughout the film.

The movie does reenactments with the actual footage of Dr. Tyler's sessions with these individuals. It's done documentary style. Read no further if you plan on seeing this as spoilers are coming, but trust me - it's not worth paying for.

As it turns out Dr. Tyler herself is being abducted; her daughter disappears and Dr. Tyler claims that aliens took her - daughter has never been found.

My opinion???? Dr. Tyler went over the deep end after her husband's suicide (which she has convinced herself was murder via an intruder); she places "alien" thoughts into her patients minds via hypnosis.

I'm not trying to be skeptical - I'm a believer; but the whole thing just didn't add up enough to convince me of alien abduction.

But it gets better (CC you'll love this). When I got home, I wanted to do further research on Dr. Tyler, her missing daughter and the Alaska area this has happened in. I could find absolutely nothing, other than sites about the movie itself. At first, I blamed this on the fact that they had said they had changed everyone's name - so I wasn't searching by the correct name. But I couldn't believe I couldn't find some connection somewhere on the internet. I did eventually....want the true story? Here it is:

Is the real story behind The Fourth Kind just the latest in the docu-sci fi/horror genre that wants audiences to believe it’s true to up the scare factor?

It appears that the film studio’s attempt at creating a back story, based on the supposedly true events of psychiatrist Abagail Tyler in Nome, Alaska, a real person who interviewed sleep-deprived patients that claimed they were abducted by aliens – is only semi-based on any reality.

The Fourth Kind is said to have been recreated from “archival footage,” however, Nome residents have no knowledge of these events and the Anchorage Daily News reports that no psychiatrist even exists by that name.

The Alaska town did, however, have a high death and disappearance rate over the years, which the FBI investigated and attributed to the winter climage and alcoholism. But hey, the deaths/disappearances do serve the story well – if they’re mostly unexplained/unsolved cases, then why not alien abductions?

So there we have it - another "Blair Witch", another "Texas Chainshaw Massacre", another...oh well, you get the picture. Apparently the "actual taped footage" is not really actual but rather actors as well.

At least if they're going to make this stuff up, they could do it WELL - instead of crappy!!!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

A holiday to break up the week and give a much needed rest.....well, sort of...

I am getting tomorrow away from work, however, CC and I are off to Chambersburg for shopping, lunch and (what else) a movie!! Should be a fun day.

I really enjoyed "The Men Who Stare At Goats" though I'm hearing a lot of people didn't. I see at least a movie a week, so I consider myself well versed when it comes to movies. Yes, I know Kevin Spacey is in it, but what you may not know is that I don't always enjoy his movies, so my opinion has nothing to do with that. It is true that the funniest parts are in the trailers that you see advertised, but the whole movie pulls all those together and makes it quite entertaining. Keep in mind, regardless how much of a true story it is (or isn't) it is about "psychic soldiers"...so don't expect an Oscar winning movie - lol!! Don't take it too seriously, just sit back and enjoy. Movies are for entertainment anyway.

I'm really hating all the Christmas commercials...is it that time of the year already?????

Monday, November 9, 2009

Oh I know, y'all are sick of my "busy" days. Can't help it - that's just how work has been.

Today I had a break from the commissary, but with a person out in the office I still had 2 jobs to do. I ended up staying an hour and a half over. Long day, lots of standing, a whole lot of filing.

Some more photos:

My great uncle use to have a place down by the Potomac River and we had picnics there almost every Sunday when I was little. I picked this particular photo as the lady in the red shirt is my Aunt Carol. She was one of my family members that died recently.

The above photo is me (in the front), my Mom and my one sister. I'm assuming we were on a day trip to somewhere. Back then we didn't do vacations, we took day trips here and there. We also didn't stop and eat at fast food places and such...Mom packed a picnic and we ate at roadside tables.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Men Who Stare At Goats!!! Being the Kevin Spacey fan that I am, naturally this is my top choice, and as always CC is appeasing me. But the movie does look good doesn't it? I don't think Kevin's part is a big one, but I'll take whatever I can get.

Hopefully, later in the week we can go see The Fourth Kind.

Keeping with the old photos theme, here's some more:

The is me. First photo is ready for church and the second is apparently after a New Year's hangover - lol!! Even at age 2 (if the dates on the photos are correct), I was the partier!!

Above is my Mugsey. Mugsey was my cat - he was extremely friendly and not afraid of anything. He use to chase big dogs out of our yard. Unfortunately, Mugsey was so friendly that someone took him, killed him and dumped him back in the yard. It was a tragic ending for such a nice cat.

CC - I'll be at your house early, to see if I can solve the picture problem with your computer!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Though I'm completely ready to crash, I just couldn't have another jump in, jump out blog posting. That's just cheating in NaBloPoMo IMO.

It's been a long week. Working the commissary really is tiring. There's a lot to do there and well, I'm use to sitting at a desk!! I didn't mind it though, but as usual, it puts me behind. Hopefully some more overtime catch up coming my way.

Another old picture slide:

My Aunt Kate & Uncle Harry. Everyone use to go to their house on Sundays. They had an in ground pool. CC and I had lots of fun there. My Aunt Kate has been dead for almost 10 years. I can remember the time length because it was several weeks before my wedding. The week before my wedding was to be their 50th wedding anniversary party - unfortunately it never happened.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I bought a device that allows me to scan picture slides onto the computer. My dad has quite a lot of slides and I've started scanning them in. Every once in while I come across a photo, that for some unknown reason, I really like. For instance this one:

This is my one sister back when she was probably in middle school (she's a grandma now). The photo is blurry and really isn't much of anything; guess my dad was testing out his camera or something. But I really like this photo.

I like the above one (apparently another tester for dad) because we never get snow like that anymore and well you just got to love the old cars!!!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Three of us completed one day of the commissary. Once we got a routine going, it went rather smoothly with minimal mistakes.It did take a good portion of the day though, putting me behind in my own work. I stayed a little later to catch some of that up.

Got home, walked the dogs, watched some tv, made dinner and am now in the bedroom to continue my college courses. Doing psychology now; am rather behind in this as well.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Last night CC and I went on a girls night out. We started with dinner at The House of Kobe. We went early, so they weren't real busy. I hadn't been there in years; but the food is still good and the atmosphere is nice; oh and their prices are still high! Anyway, we ordered the same thing, so when the waitress showed up; CC ordered for both of us. The food comes very fast and there is allot of it! I brought over half of mine home.

The funny thing was that when we asked for "to go" boxes, the waitress brought them, handed CC her's and proceeded to help me get my food in the box. We found this rather funny; like they were afraid I might make a mess or something. It was funny and strange all at the same time. Anyway, after we left...CC made the comment that maybe they thought SHE was the man of the relationship - it seemed to fit and we got a good laugh about it. And thinking about it this morning, CC had ordered for both of us so maybe that's why they may of thought that....but we paid separate, so maybe not.

After dinner it was too early to go to the movie, so we went to Funkstown Tavern to have drinks and b*tch about work and such.

Then we went to the movie - Paranormal Activity.

We really love horror movies, we really want to go home and be afraid to go to sleep. This movie promised this. It failed so miserably. First off - the movie was way too slow getting started - WAY TOO SLOW. You would think they'd be building characters or something during this time, but they didn't. You felt no connection to the characters what so ever. You'd get bored with their day time chit-chat, and then at night, while they slept, when something did happen, it would happen and then it would be morning. When the movie finally got interesting; it was over. No one in our theatre moved to leave at first; I think they were as confused as we were!!And as in Blair Witch fashion - the movie is not based on true events.

Early in the day, Colton came to visit. He's growing like a weed; and now throws little fits when he's told "no". We have to put Keyser in the pen, due to his jumping and since Toby is such a pain when Colton's there, we opted him to the pen as well - first time Toby's ever been in it.

Colton had fallen the day before, thus the bruise on his head. He wouldn't smile until AFTER I took a picture!!!

Featured Posts

Followers

About

Ads 468x60px

Only Interested In My Weight Loss Posts?

Welcome

Always check with your doctor before starting any weight loss program. Pick the program that you can do for a LIFETIME. Weight Loss is not a temporary situation - once you get it off, you want to keep it off!